Encore

Each member of Lady Antebellum has his or her own method for staying busy on long plane rides, which they'll use when they begin the Wheels Up Tour later this month. There's TV, movies, wine and one habit that can prove to be a little embarrassing.

On stage, Eric Church plays with fire -- literally. He shouts and cusses, and gestures to band mates to get them riled up. He'll pump a fist and point at the crowd like an angry football coach. The 'The Outsiders' singer forever seems one wrong word away from raging, and his fans love him for it. Off stage ... it's a different story.

Country music's pop influences have never been as obvious as they are today. Top artists claim pop and rock bands as childhood favorites. Rock producers are shaping the format's top new albums. And the occasional guest appearance from a Music City outsider has become the rule, not the exception, on just about every country release.

As 2014 nears the halfway point, it's time to reflect on the best of country music. The best songs, the best albums and the best moments of 2014 come from newcomers and superstars. They come from awards shows and reality television. The Best of Country Music 2014 comes from all over.

Amongst country music's top stars you'll find a captain, several staff sergeants, a corporal and an Army Ranger. All four branches of the United States military are covered by country hitmakers. In some cases they were on the front lines for historic events. In some cases an artist's career began during down time.

In the last week alone two country singers had to stop their shows to separate two fans. It seems to happen more and more recently. Are Nashville's stars becoming more vigilant or is it rowdier in the front few rows than ever before? Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes says ... neither.

The lack of women on the radio is a known and oft-discussed problem. But until now it has only been discussed in terms of the present, as in how many songs by female solo artists are on the charts today? Can you remember the last time a solo female had a No. 1 hit?

Collin Raye joins a growing list of seasoned country (and rock) singers with strong thoughts on the current Nashville sound. Raye politely told Fox News he didn't care for the "dumbed down" sound of today, and predictably he found fans to agree with him. Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes says singers who look back longingly aren't painting an accurate picture of the "good old days."

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